\ 


'J?  i* 

&***>:.&  k r 


<?  V *»  / 


Ch 


sr 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/whenmalindysings00dunb_0 


WHEN  MAUNDY  SINGS 


WHEN 

MALINDY 

SINGS 

BY 

PAUL  LAURENCE 
DUNBAR 

# 

ILLUSTRATED  WITH 
PHOTOGRAPHS  'EY  THE 
HcAMPTOSt  INSTITUTE 
CcAMERcA  CLUE 

to 

DECORATIONS  BY 
MARGARET 
ARMSTRONG 


DODD  MEAD  AND  CO. 
NEW  YORK  MCMIII 


Copyright , 1896,  1903 

BY  DODD  MEAD  AND  COMPANY 


UNIVERSITY  PRESS  • JOHN  WILSON 
AND  SON  • CAMBRIDGE,  U.  S.  A. 


CONTENTS 


WHEN  MALINDY  SINGS  * * * 

* 

Page 

9 

DRIZZLE 

♦ 

♦ 

* 

15 

TWO  LITTLE  BOOTS  . * * * 

* 

. 

♦ 

2\ 

THE  LOOKING-GLASS  * * * . 

♦ 

♦ 

♦ 

27 

THE  COLORED  BAND  * ♦ * * 

♦ 

♦ 

. 

Z\ 

THE  MEMORY  OF  MARTHA  * 

♦ 

* 

♦ 

39 

SPRING  FEVER 

♦ 

* 

♦ 

45 

THE  TRYST 

♦ 

♦ 

♦ 

51 

ITCHING  HEELS 

♦ 

♦ 

♦ 

59 

THE  BOOGAH  MAN  * . . * 

♦ 

♦ 

♦ 

65 

A PLANTATION  PORTRAIT  * 

♦ 

♦ 

♦ 

71 

“HOWDY,  HONEY,  HOWDY ! ” 

♦ 

♦ 

♦ 

77 

NODDIN'  BY  DE  FIRE  . . . . 

♦ 

♦ 

. 

83 

A WARM  DAY  IN  WINTER  . 

♦ 

* 

♦ 

89 

THE  VISITOR 

♦ 

♦ 

♦ 

97 

MY  SWEET  BROWN  GAL  * * 

♦ 

♦ 

♦ 

105 

IN  THE  MORNING 

♦ 

♦ 

♦ 

UZ 

TO  THE  EASTERN  SHORE  * 

♦ 

♦ 

♦ 

\2\ 

WADIN'  IN  DE  CREEK  * • * 

♦ 

♦ 

. 

129 

'LONG  TO'DS  NIGHT  * * . * 

♦ 

♦ 

137 

WHEN  MAUNDY  SINGS 


9 


G'  WAY  an'  quit  dat  noise.  Miss  Lucy — 
Put  dat  music  book  away ; 

What 's  de  use  to  keep  on  tryin'  ? 

Ef  you  practise  twell  you  're  gray, 

You  cain't  sta't  no  notes  a-flyin' 

Lak  de  ones  dat  rants  and  rings 
F'om  de  kitchen  to  de  big  woods 
When  Malindy  sings* 

You  ain't  got  de  nachel  o'gans 
Fu'  to  make  de  soun'  come  right, 

You  ain't  got  de  tu'ns  an'  twistin's 
Fu'  to  make  it  sweet  an'  light* 

Tell  you  one  thing  now,  Miss  Lucy, 

An'  I 'm  tellin'  you  fu'  true, 

When  hit  comes  to  raal  right  singin', 

' T ain't  no  easy  thing  to  do* 

Easy  'nough  fu'  folks  to  hollah, 

Lookin'  at  de  lines  an'  dots, 

When  dey  ain't  no  one  kin  sence  it. 

An'  de  chune  comes  in,  in  spots ; 

But  fu'  real  melojous  music, 

Dat  jes'  strikes  yo'  hea't  and  clings, 

Jes'  you  stan'  an'  listen  wif  me 
When  Malindy  sings* 
n 


Ain’t  you  nevah  hyeahd  Malindy  ? 

Blessed  soul,  tek  up  de  cross  ! 

Look  hyeah,  ain't  you  jokin',  honey  ? 

Well,  you  don't  know  whut  you  los'* 
Y'  ought  to  hyeah  dat  gal  a-wa'blin', 
Robins,  la'ks,  an'  all  dem  things, 
Heish  dey  moufs  an'  hides  dey  faces 
When  Malindy  sings* 

Fiddlin'  man  jes'  stop  his  fiddlin', 

Lay  his  fiddle  on  de  she'f ; 
Mockin'-bird  quit  tryin'  to  whistle, 
'Cause  he  jes'  so  shamed  hisse'f* 
Folks  a-playin'  on  de  banjo 

Draps  dey  fingahs  on  de  strings  — 
Bless  yo'  soul  — fu'gits  to  move  'em. 
When  Malindy  sings* 

She  jes'  spreads  huh  mouf  and  hollahs, 
“ Come  to  Jesus,"  twell  you  hyeah 
Sinnahs'  tremblin'  steps  and  voices, 
Timid-lak  a-drawin'  neah; 

Den  she  tu'ns  to  “ Rock  of  Ages," 
Simply  to  de  cross  she  clings, 

An'  you  fin'  yo'  teahs  a-drappin' 

When  Malindy  sings* 

13 


Who  dat  says  dat  humble  praises 
Wif  de  Master  nevah  counts  ? 

Heish  yo'  mouf,  I hyeah  dat  music, 

E z hit  rises  up  an'  mounts  — 

Floatin'  by  de  hills  an'  valleys, 

Way  above  dis  buryin'  sod, 

Ez  hit  makes  its  way  in  glory 
To  de  very  gates  of  God ! 

Oh,  hit 's  sweetah  dan  de  music 
Of  an  edicated  band ; 

Anf  hit 's  dearah  dan  de  battle's 
Song  o'  triumph  in  de  lan'. 

It  seems  holier  dan  evenin' 

When  de  solemn  chu'ch  bell  rings, 

Ez  I sit  an'  ca'mly  listen 
While  Malindy  sings. 

Towsah,  stop  dat  ba'kin',  hyeah  me! 

Mandy,  mek  dat  chile  keep  still ; 

Don't  you  hyeah  de  echoes  callin' 

F'om  de  valley  to  de  hill  ? 

Let  me  listen,  I can  hyeah  it, 

Th'oo  de  bresh  of  angel's  wings, 

Sof'  an'  sweet, “ Swing  Low,  Sweet  Chariot," 
Ez  Malindy  sings. 

n 


DRIZZLE 


HT  'S  been  drizzlin'  an ' been  sprinkling 
Kin'  o'  techy  all  day  long* 

I ain't  wet  enough  fu'  toddy, 

I 's  too  damp  to  raise  a song, 

An'  de  case  have  set  me  t'inkin', 

Dat  dey 's  folk  des  lak  de  rain, 

Dat  goes  drizzlin'  w'en  dey 's  talkin', 

An'  won't  speak  out  flat  an'  plain. 


17 


Ain't  you  nevah  set  an'  listened 
At  a body  'splain  his  min'  ? 

W'en  de  t'oughts  dey  keep  on  drappin' 
Was  n't  big  enough  to  fin'  ? 

Dem 's  whut  I call  drizzlin'  people, 
Othahs  call  'em  mealy  mouf, 

But  de  fust  name  hits  me  bettah, 

Case  dey  nevah  tech  a drouf. 

Dey  kin  talk  from  hyeah  to  yandah, 
An'  f'om  yandah  hyeah  ergain, 

An'  dey  don'  mek  no  mo'  'pression, 
Den  dis  powd'ry  kin'  o'  rain. 

En  yo'  min'  is  dry  ez  cindahs, 

Er  a piece  o'  kindlin'  wood, 

'T  ain't  no  use  a-talkin'  to  'em, 

Fu'  dey  drizzle  ain't  no  good. 


Gimme  folks  dat  speak  out  nachul, 
Whut  'll  say  des  whut  dey  mean, 
Whut  don't  set  dey  wo'ds  so  skimpy 
Dat  you  got  to  guess  between* 

I want  talk  des'  lak  de  showahs 
Whut  kin  wash  de  dust  erway, 
Not  dat  sprinklin'  convusation, 

Dat  des  drizzle  all  de  day* 


20 


TWO  LITTLE  BOOTS 


21 


T^WO  little  boots  all  rough  an'  wo', 
Two  little  boots ! 

Laws,  I 's  kissed  'em  times  befo', 

Dese  little  boots ! 

Seems  de  toes  a-peepin'  thoo 
Dis  hyeah  hole  an'  sayin'  “ Boo ! " 
Evah  time  dey  looks  at  you  — 

Dese  little  boots* 

Membah  de  time  he  put  'em  on, 

Dese  little  boots ; 

Riz  an'  called  fu'  'em  by  dawn, 

Dese  little  boots ; 

Den  he  tromped  de  livelong  day, 
Laffin'  in  his  happy  way, 

Evaht'ing  he  had  to  say, 

44  My  little  boots ! " 


23 


Kickin'  de  san'  de  whole  day  long, 
Dem  little  boots; 

Good  de  cobblah  made  'em  strong, 
Dem  little  boots ! 

Rocks  was  fu'  dat  baby's  use, 

I'on  had  to  stan'  abuse 
W'en  you  tu'ned  dese  champeens  loose 
Dese  little  boots ! 

Ust  to  make  de  ol'  cat  cry, 

Dese  little  boots ; 

Den  you  walked  it  mighty  high, 

Proud  little  boots ! 

Ahms  akimbo,  stan'in'  wide, 

Eyes  a-sayin'  “ Dis  is  pride ! " 

Den  de  manny-baby  stride ! 

You  little  boots* 


25 


Somehow,  you  don'  seem  so  gay, 
Po'  little  boots, 

Sence  yo'  ownah  went  erway, 
Po'  little  boots ! 

Yo'  bright  tops  don'  look  so  red, 
Dese  brass  tips  is  dull  an*  dead ; 

“ Goo'-by,”  whut  de  baby  said ; 
Deah  little  boots ! 

Ain't  you  kin'  o'  sad  yo'se'f, 

You  little  boots  ? 

Dis  is  all  his  mammy 's  lef', 

Two  little  boots* 

Sence  huh  baby  gone  an'  died, 
Heav'n  itse'f  hit  seem  to  hide 
Des  a little  bit  inside 

Two  little  boots. 


26 


THE  LOOKING-GLASS 


27 


J^INAH  stan'  befo'  de  glass, 
Lookin'  moughty  neat, 

An'  huh  purty  shadder  sass 
At  huh  haid  an'  feet* 

While  she  sasshay  'roun'  an'  bow, 
Smilin'  den  an'  poutin'  now, 

An'  de  lookin'-glass,  I 'low 

Say : 44  Now,  ain't  she  sweet  ? " 

All  she  do,  de  glass  it  see, 

Hit  des  see,  no  mo', 

Seems  to  me,  hit  ought  to  be 
Drappin'  on  de  flo'* 

She  go  w'en  huh  time  git  slack, 
Kissin'  han's  an'  smilin'  back, 
Lawsy,  how  my  lips  go  smack, 
Wat  chin'  at  de  do'. 


29 


Wisht  I was  huh  looking-glass, 
W'en  she  kissed  huh  han* ; 
Does  you  t'ink  I 'd  let  it  pass, 
Settin'  on  de  stan'  ? 

No;  I 'd  des'  fall  down  an'  break, 
Kin'  o'  glad  't  u z fu'  huh  sake ; 
But  de  diffunce,  dat  whut  make 
Looking-glass  an'  man* 


30 


THE  COLORED  BAND 


31 


w 'EN  de  colo'ed  ban'  comes  ma'chin' 
down  de  street, 

Don't  you  people  stan'  daih  starin' ; lif' 
yo'  feet ! 

Ain't  dey  playin'  ? Hip,  hooray ! 

Stir  yo'  stumps  an'  cleah  de  way, 

Fu'  de  music  dat  dey  mekin'  can't  be 
beat* 


33 


Oh,  de  major  man 's  a-swin gin'  of  his 
stick, 

An*  de  pickaninnies  crowdin'  roun'  him 
thick ; 

In  his  go'geous  uniform, 

He 's  de  lightnin'  of  de  sto'm, 

An'  de  little  clouds  erroun'  look  mighty 
slick. 

You  kin  hyeah  a fine  perfo'mance  w'en 
de  white  ban's  serenade, 

An'  dey  play  dey  high-toned  music 
mighty  sweet, 

But  hit 's  Sousa  played  in  rag-time,  an' 
hit 's  Rastus  on  Parade, 

W'en  de  colo'ed  ban'  comes  ma'chin' 
down  de  street. 


35 


W'en  de  colored  ban'  comes  ma'chin' 
down  de  street 

You  kin  hyeah  de  ladies  all  erroun' 
repeat : 

“Ain't  dey  handsome?  Ain't  dey 
gran'  ? 

Ain't  dey  splendid  ? Goodness,  lan' ! 

W'y  dey 's  pu'fect  f'om  dey  fo'heads  to 
dey  feet ! " 

An'  sich  steppin'  to  de  music  down  de 
line, 

'T  ain't  de  music  by  itself  dat  meks  it 
fine, 

Hit 's  de  walkin',  step  by  step, 

An'  de  keepin'  time  wid  “ Hep," 

Dat  it  mek  a common  ditty  soun'  divine* 


37 


Oh,  de  white  ban'  play  hits  music,  an' 
hit 's  mighty  good  to  hyeah, 

An'  it  sometimes  leaves  a ticklin'  in  yo' 
feet; 

But  de  hea't  goes  into  bus'ness  fu'  to 
he'p  erlong  de  eah, 

W'en  de  colo'ed  ban'  goes  marchin' 
down  de  street* 


38 


THE  MEMORY  OF 
MARTHA 


39 


OUT  in  de  night  a sad  bird  moans, 

An',  oh,  but  hit 's  moughty  lonely ; 
Times  I kin  sing,  but  mos'  I groans, 

Fu'  oh,  but  hit 's  moughty  lonely ! 

Is  you  sleepin'  well  dis  evenin',  Marfy, 
deah? 

W'en  I calls  you  f'om  de  cabin,  kin  you 
hyeah  ? 

'T  ain't  de  same  ol'  place  to  me, 

Muffin' 's  lak  hit  used  to  be, 

W'en  I knowed  dat  you  was  alius  some'ers 


near* 


41 


Down  by  de  road  de  shadders  grows. 
An',  oh,  but  hit 's  moughty  lonely ; 

Seem  lak  de  ve'y  moonlight  knows, 

An',  oh,  but  hit 's  moughty  lonely! 

Does  you  know,  I 's  cryin'  fu'  you,  oh, 
my  wife  ? 

Does  you  know  dey  ain't  no  joy  no  mo' 
in  life  ? 

An'  my  only  t'ought  is  dis, 

Dat  I's  honin'  fu'  de  bliss 

Fu'  to  quit  dis  groun'  o'  worriment  an' 
strife* 

43 


Dah  on  de  bald  my  banjo  lays, 

An',  oh,  but  hit 's  moughty  lonely ; 

Can't  even  sta't  a chune  o'  praise, 

An',  oh,  but  hit 's  moughty  lonely  ! 

Oh,  hit 's  moughty  slow  a-waitin'  hyeah 
below. 

Is  you  watchin'  fu'  me,  Marfy,  at  de 
do'? 

Ef  you  is,  in  spite  o'  sin, 

Dey  '11  be  sho'  to  let  me  in, 

W'en  dey  sees  yo'  face  a-shinin',  den 
dey  '11  know. 

44 


SPRING  FEVER 


45 


^JRASS  commence  a-comin' 

Thoo  de  thawin'  ground 
Evah  bird  dat  whistles 
Keepin'  noise  erroun' ; 

Cain't  sleep  in  de  mo'nin', 

Case  befo'  it 's  light 
Bluebird  an'  de  robin 
Done  begun  to  fight* 

Bluebird  sass  de  robin* 

Robin  sass  him  back, 

Den  de  bluebird  scol'  him 
'Twell  his  face  is  black* 

Would  n'  min'  de  quoilin' 

All  de  mo'nin'  long, 

'Cept  it  wakes  me  early, 

Case  hit 's  done  in  song* 


47 


Anybody  wo'kin' 

Wants  to  sleep  zz  late 
E z de  folks  *11  'low  him , 

An'  I wish  to  state 
(Co'se  dis  ain't  to  scattah, 
But  'twix'  me  an'  you), 

I could  stan'  de  bedclothes, 
Kin'  o'  latah,  too* 

'T  ain't  my  natchul  feeling 
Dis  hyeah  mopin'  spell* 

I stan's  early  risin' 

Mos'ly  moughty  well ; 
But  de  ve'y  minute, 

I feel  Ap'il's  heat, 

Bless  yo'  soul,  de  bedclothes 
Nevah  seemed  so  sweet* 


49 


Mastah,  he 's  a-scol'in', 

Case  de  han's  is  slow, 

All  de  hosses  balkin', 

Jes'  cain't  mek  'em  go* 

Don'  know  whut 's  de  mattah, 
Hit 's  a funny  t'ing, 

I ess'n  hit 's  de  fevah 
Dat  you  gits  in  spring* 


50 


THE  TRYST 


51 


j"y  night  creep  down  erlong  de  lan', 
De  shadders  rise  an'  shake, 

De  frog  is  startin'  up  his  ban', 

De  cricket  is  awake ; 

My  wo'k  is  mos'  nigh  done,  Celes', 
To-night  I won't  be  late, 

I 's  hu'yin'  thoo  my  level  bes', 

Wait  fu'  me  by  de  gate* 


53 


De  mockingbird  11  sen'  his  glee 
A-thrillin'  thoo  and  thoo, 

I know  dat  ol'  magnolia-tree 
Is  smellin'  des'  fu'  you ; 

De  jessamine  erside  de  road 
Is  bloomin'  rich  an'  white* 

My  hea't 's  a-th'obbin'  'cause  it  knowed 
You 'd  wait  fu'  me  to-night* 


55 


Hit  ' s lonesome,  ain't  it,  stan'in'  thaih 
Wid  no  one  nigh  to  talk  ? 

But  ain't  dey  whispahs  in  de  aih 
Erlong  de  gyahden  walk  ? 

Don't  somep'n  kin'  o'  call  my  name, 
An'  say  “ he  love  you  bes' " ? 

Hit 's  true,  I wants  to  say  de  same, 
So  wait  fu'  me,  Celes'. 


57 


Sing  somep'n  fu'  to  pass  de  time, 
Outsing  de  mockingbird, 

You  got  de  music  an'  de  rhyme, 
You  beat  him  wid  de  word* 

I 's  cornin'  now,  my  wo'k  is  done, 
De  hour  has  come  fu'  res', 

I wants  to  fly,  but  only  run  — 
Wait  fu'  me,  deah  Celes'. 


58 


ITCHING  HEELS 


59 


P'lP  de  peace  o'  my  eachin'  heels,  set  down ; 

Don'  fiddle  dat  chune  no  mo'* 

Don'  you  see  how  dat  melody  stuhs  me  up 
An'  baigs  me  to  tek  to  de  flo'  ? 

You  knows  I 's  a Christian,  good  an'  strong ; 

I wusship  f'om  June,  to  June; 

My  pra'ahs  dey  ah  loud  an'  my  hymns  ah 
long: 

I baig  you  don'  fiddle  dat  chune* 

61 


I 's  a crick  in  my  back  an'  a misery  hyeah 
Whaih  de  j'ints 's  gittin'  o 1'  an'  stiff, 

But  hit  seems  lak  you  brings  me  de  bref  o' 
my  youf ; 

W'y,  I 's  suttain  I noticed  a w'iff. 

Don'  fiddle  dat  chune  no  mo',  my  chile, 
Don'  fiddle  dat  chune  no  mo' ; 

I '11  git  up  an'  taih  up  dis  groun'  fu'  a mile, 
An'  den  I '11  be  chu'ched  fu'  it,  sho'* 


63 


Oh,  fiddle  dat  chune  some  mo',  I say, 

An'  fiddle  it  loud  an'  fas' : 

I'sa  youngstah  ergin  in  de  mi'st  o'  my 
sin ; 

De  p'esent 's  gone  back  to  de  pas'* 

I '11  dance  to  dat  chune,  so  des  fiddle  erway 
I knows  how  de  backslidah  feels ; 

So  fiddle  it  on  'twell  de  break  o'  de  day 
Fu'  de  sake  o'  my  eachin'  heels* 


64 


THE  BOOGAH  MAN 


65 


"VyT'EN  de  evening  shadders 
Come  a-glidin*  down, 
Fallin*  black  an*  heavy 
Ovah  hill  an*  town, 

Ef  you  listen  keerful, 

Keerful  ez  you  kin, 

So  *s  you  boun*  to  notice 
Des  a drappin*  pin ; 

Den  you  *11  hyeah  a funny 
Soun*  ercross  de  lan* ; 

Lay  low ; dat  *s  de  callin* 

Of  de  Boogah  Man ! 


Woo-oc>y  woo-oo  l 
Hyeah  him  ez  he  go  erlong  de  way  ; 
Woo-ooy  woo-oo  ! 

Don * you  wish  de  night  yud  tuyn  to  day  ? 
Woo-ooy  woo-oo! 

Hide  yoy  little  peepers  yhind  yoy  had  ; 
Woo-ooy  woo-oo  ! 

Callin'  of  de  Boogah  cMan . 


67 


W'en  de  win  's  a-shiverin' 
Thoo  de  gloomy  lane, 
An'  dey  comes  de  patterin' 
Of  de  evenin'  rain, 

W'en  de  owl 's  a-hootin', 
Out  daih  in  de  wood, 
Don'  you  wish,  my  honey, 
Dat  you  had  been  good  ? 
'T  ain't  no  use  to  try  to 
Snuggle  up  to  Dan ; 
Bless  you,  dat 's  de  callin' 
Of  de  Boogah  Man ! 


69 


Ef  you  loves  yo'  mammy, 
An'  you  min's  yo'  pap, 
Ef  you  nevah  wriggles 
Outen  Sukey's  lap ; 

Ef  you  says  yo'  44  Lay  me  " 
Evah  single  night 
'Fo'  dey  tucks  de  kivers 
An'  puts  out  de  light, 
Den  de  rain  kin  pattah, 
Win'  blow  lak  a fan, 

But  you  need  n'  bothah 
'Bout  de  Boogah  Man ! 


70 


A PLANTATION  PORTRAIT 


71 


Vs«=sSs 

J_J  AIN’T  you  see  my  Mandy  Lou, 
Is  it  true  ? 

Whaih  you  been  Pom  day  to  day, 
Whaih,  Isay? 

Dat  you  say  you  nevah  seen 
Dis  hyeah  queen 

Walkin'  roun'  Pom  fieP  to  street 
Smilin'  sweet  ? 

Slendah  ez  a saplin'  tree ; 

Seems  to  me 

W'en  de  win'  blow  f'om  de  bay 
She  jes'  sway 

Lak  de  reg'lar  saplin'  do 
Ef  hit 's  grew 

Straight  an'  graceful,  'dout  a limb, 
Sweet  an'  slim. 


73 


Browner  den  de  frush*s  wing, 

An * she  sing 

Lak  he  mek  his  wa*ble  ring 
In  de  spring ; 

But  she  sholy  beat  de  frush, 
Hyeah  me,  hush : 

W*en  she  sing,  huh  teef  kin  show 
White  ez  snow. 

Eyes  ez  big  an*  roun*  an*  bright 
Ez  de  light 

Whut  de  moon  gives  in  de  prime 
Harvest  time. 

An*  huh  haih  a woolly  skein, 
Black  an*  plain, 

Hol*s  you  wid  a natchul  twis* 
Close  to  bliss. 


75 


Tendah  han's  dat  mek  yot  own 
Feel  lak  stone ; 

Easy  stepping  blessid  feet, 

Small  an'  sweet. 

Hain't  you  seen  my  Mandy  Lou, 
Is  it  true  ? 

Look  at  huh  befo'  she 's  gone, 
Den  pass  on ! 


76 


77 


DO'  a-stan'in'  on  a jar,  fiah  a-shimn' 
thoo, 

OF  folks  drowsin'  'roun'  de  place,  wide 
awake  is  Lou, 

W'en  I tap,  she  answeh,  an'  I see  huh 
'mence  to  grin, 

“Howdy,  honey,  howdy,  won't  you  step 
right  in?" 

Den  I step  erpon  de  log  layin'  at  de  do', 
Bless  de  Lawd,  huh  mammy  an'  huh  pap 's 
done  'menced  to  sno', 

Now 's  de  time,  ef  evah,  ef  I 's  gwine  to  try 
an'  win, 

“Howdy,  honey,  howdy,  won't  you  step 
right  in?" 

No  use  playin'  on  de  aidge,  trimblin'  on  de 
brink, 

W'en  a body  love  a gal,  tell  huh  whut  he 
t'ink ; 

W'en  huh  hea't  is  open  fu'  de  love  you 
gwine  to  gin, 

Pull  yo'se'f  togethah,  suh,  an'  step  right  in* 


79 


Sweetes'  imbitation  dat  a body  evah 
hyeahed, 

Sweetah  den  de  music  of  a love-sick 
mocking-bird, 

Cornin'  f'om  de  gal  you  loves  bettah  den 
yo'  kin, 

u Howdy,  honey,  howdy,  won't  you  step 
right  in?" 


At  de  gate  o'  heaven  w'en  de  storm  o' 
life  is  pas', 

'Spec'  I 'II  be  a-stan'in',  'twell  de  Mastah 
say  at  las', 

44  Hyeah  he  stan'  all  weary,  but  he 
winned  his  fight  wid  sin* 

Howdy,  honey,  howdy,  won't  you  step 
right  in?" 


82 


NODDIN’  BY  DE  FIRE 


83 


^OME  folks  t*inks  hit  *s  right  an*  p*opah, 
Soon  ez  bedtime  come  erroun*, 

Fu*  to  scramble  to  de  kiver, 

Lak  dey  *d  hyeahed  de  trumpet  soun*. 
But  dese  people  dey  all  misses 
Whut  I mostly  does  desiah ; 

Dat  *s  de  settin*  roun*  an*  dozin*, 

An*  a-noddin*  by  de  fiah* 

85 


When  you 's  tiahed  out  a-hoein', 

Er  a-followin'  de  plough, 

Whut  's  de  use  of  des  a-fallin' 

On  yo'  pallet  lak  a cow  ? 

W'y,  de  fun  is  all  in  waitin' 

In  de  face  of  all  de  tiah, 

An'  a-dozin'  and  a-drowsin' 

By  a good  ol'  hick'ry  fiah* 

Oh,  you  grunts  an'  groans  an'  mumbles 
Case  yo'  bones  is  full  o'  coF, 

Dough  you  feels  de  joy  a-tricklin' 

Roun'  de  co'nahs  of  yo'  souk 
An'  you  'low  anothah  minute 
'S  sho  to  git  you  wa'm  an'  dryah, 
W'en  you  set  up  pas'  yo'  bedtime, 

Case  you  hates  to  leave  de  fiah* 


87 


Whut  's  de  use  o'  downright  sleepin'  ? 

You  can't  feel  it  while  it  las', 

An'  you  git  up  feelin'  sorry 
W'en  de  time  fu'  it  is  pas'. 

Seem  to  me  dat  time  too  precious, 

An'  de  houahs  too  short  entiah, 

Fu'  to  sleep,  w'en  you  could  spen'  'em 
Des  a-noddin'  by  de  fiah. 


A WARM  DAY  IN  WINTER 


89 


“ gUNSHINE  on  de  medders, 
Greenness  on  de  way ; 

Dat  's  de  blessed  reason 
I sing  all  de  day.” 

Look  hyeah ! Whut  you  axin'  ? 

Whut  meks  me  so  merry  ? 
'Spect  to  see  me  sighin' 

W'en  hit 's  wa'm  in  Febawary  ? 


91 


'Long  de  stake  an'  rider 
Seen  a robin  set ; 

W'y,  hit  'mence  a-thawin', 
Groun'  is  monst'ous  wet* 

Den  you  stan*  dah  wond'rin', 
Lookin'  skeert  an'  stary ; 

I 's  a right  to  caper 

W'en  hit 's  wa'm  in  Febawary* 


93 


Missis  gone  a -driving 
Mastah  gone  to  shoot ; 

Evfry  da'ky  lazin' 

In  de  sun  to  boot* 

Qua'tah  *s  moughty  pleasant, 
Hangin'  'roun'  my  Mary ; 
Countin'  hour/  to  prospah 

W'en  hit  *s  wa'm  in  Febawary* 


Cidah  look  so  pu'ty 
Po'in'  P om  de  jug  — 

Don'  you  see  it 's  happy  ? 

Hyeah  it  laffin' — glug  ? 

Now 's  de  time  fu'  people 
Fu'  to  try  an'  bury 
All  dey  grief  an'  sorrer, 

W'en  hit 's  wa'm  in  Febawary* 


96 


THE  VISITOR 


97 


j ITTLE  lady  at  de  do', 

W'y  you  stan'  dey  knockin'  ? 
Nevah  seen  you  ac'  befo' 

In  er  way  so  shockin'* 

Don'  you  know  de  sin  it  is 
Fu'  to  git  my  temper  riz 
W'en  I 's  got  de  rheumatiz 
An'  my  jints  is  lockin'  ? 


99 


No,  or  Miss  ain't  sont  you  down, 
Don'  you  tell  no  story ; 

I been  seed  you  hangin'  'roun' 

Dis  hyeah  te'itory* 

You  des  come  fu'  me  to  tell 
You  a tale,  an'  I ain'  — well  — 
Look  hyeah,  what  is  dat  I smell  ? 
Steamin'  victuals  ? Glory ! 


101 


Come  in,  Missy,  how  you  do  ? 

Come  up  by  de  fiah, 

I was  jokin',  chile,  wid  you ; 

Bring  dat  basket  nighah* 

Huh  uh,  ain'  dat  lak  oY  Miss, 
Sen'in'  me  a feas'  lak  dis  ? 
Rheumatiz  cain't  stop  my  bliss, 
Case  I 's  feelin'  spryah. 

103 


Chicken  meat  an'  gravy,  too, 

Hot  an'  still  a-heatin' ; 

Good  ol'  sweet  pertater  stew ; 

Missy  b'lieves  in  treatin'* 

Des  set  down,  you  blessed  chile, 
Daddy  got  to  t'ink  a while, 

Den  a story  mek  you  smile 
W'en  he  git  thoo  eatin'* 

J04 


' 


MY  SWEET  BROWN  GAL 


J05 


^^'EN  de  clouds  is  hangin' 
heavy  in  de  sky, 

An'  de  win's 's  a-taihin'  moughty 
vig'rous  by, 

I don'  go  a-sighin'  all  erlong  de 
way; 

I des'  wo'k  a-waitin'  fu'  de  close  o' 
day. 

Case  I knows  w'en  evenin'  draps 
huh  shadders  down, 

I won'  care  a smidgeon  fu'  de 
weathah's  frown ; 

Let  de  rain  go  splashin',  let  de 
thundah  raih, 

Dey 's  a happy  sheltah,  an'  I 's  goin' 
daih. 


J07 


Down  in  my  o 1'  cabin  wa'm  ez 
mammy's  toas', 

'Taters  in  de  fiah  layin'  daih  to 
roas' ; 

No  one  daih  to  cross  me,  got  no 
talkin'  pal 

But  I 's  got  de  comp'ny  o'  my  sweet 
brown  gaL 


109 


So  I spends  my  evenin'  listenin'  to 
huh  sing, 

Lak  a blessid  angel ; how  huh  voice 
do  ring ! 

Sweetah  den  a bluebird  flutterin' 
erroun', 

W'en  he  sees  de  steamin'  o'  de  new 
ploughed  groun'. 


m 


Den  I hugs  huh  closah,  closah  to  my 
breas'* 

Need  n't  sing,  my  da'lin',  tek  you' 
hones'  res'* 

Does  I mean  Malindy,  Mandy,  Lize 
er  Sal  ? 

No,  I means  my  fiddle  — dat 's  my 
sweet  brown  gal ! 


U2 


f . '<■; 

IN  THE  MORNING 


JI3 


A 


| IAS ! 'Lias ! Bless  de  Lawd ! 

Don'  you  know  de  day 's  erbroad  ? 
Ef  you  don'  git  up,  you  scamp, 

Dey  '11  be  trouble  in  dis  camp* 

T'ink  I gwine  to  let  you  sleep 
W'ile  I meks  yo'  boa'd  an'  keep  ? 

Dat 's  a putty  howdy-do  — 

Don'  you  hyeah  me,  'Lias  — you  ? 

Bet  ef  I come  crost  dis  flo' 

You  won'  fin'  no  time  to  sno'. 

Daylight  all  a-shinin'  in 

W'ile  you  sleep  — w'y  hit 's  a sin ! 

Ain't  de  can'le-light  enough 
To  bu'n  out  widout  a snuff, 

But  you  go  de  mo'nin'  thoo 
Bu'nin'  up  de  daylight  too  ? 


\\5 


’Lias,  don’  you  hyeah  me  call  ? 

No  use  tu’nin’  to’ds  de  wall ; 

I kin  hyeah  dat  mattuss  squeak ; 

Don’  you  hyeah  me  w’en  I speak  ? 

Dis  hyeah  clock  done  struck  off  six  — 
Ca’line,  bring  me  dem  ah  sticks ! 

Oh,  you  down,  suh ; huh ! you  down 
Look  hyeah,  don’  you  daih  to  frown* 


m 


Ma'ch  yo'se'f  an ' wash  ye/  face, 

Don'  you  splattah  all  de  place ; 

I got  somep'n  else  to  do, 

'Sides  jes'  cleanin'  aftah  you* 

Tek  dat  comb  an'  fix  yo'  haid  — 
Looks  jes'  lak  a feddah  baid* 

Look  hyeah,  boy,  I let  you  see 
You  sha'n't  roll  yo'  eyes  at  me* 

Come  hyeah ; bring  me  dat  ah  strap ! 
Boy,  I '11  whup  you  'twell  you  drap ; 
You  done  felt  yo'se'f  too  strong, 

An'  you  sholy  got  me  wrong* 

Set  down  at  dat  table  thaih ; 

Jes'  you  whimpah  ef  you  daih ! 

Evah  mo'nin'  on  dis  place, 

Seem  lak  I mus'  lose  my  grace* 


119 


Fol'  yo'  han's  an'  bow  yo'  haid  - 
Wait  ontwell  de  blessin'  's  said; 
u Lawd,  have  mussy  on  ouah  souls  — '' 
(Don'  you  daih  to  tech  dem  rolls  — ) 
u Bless  de  food  we  gwine  to  eat  — '' 
(You  set  still  — I see  yo'  feet ; 

You  jes'  try  dat  trick  agin!) 
u Gin  us  peace  an'  joy.  Amen ! '' 


120 


TO  THE  EASTERN  SHORE 


J 21 


J 'S  feelin'  kin'  o'  lonesome  in  my  little 
room  to-night, 

An'  my  min's  done  los'  de  minutes  an' 
de  miles, 

W'ile  it  teks  me  back  a-flyin'  to  de 
country  of  delight, 

Whaih  de  Chesapeake  goes  grumblin' 
er  wid  smiles. 

Oh,  de  ol'  plantation 's  callin'  to  me, 
Come,  come  back, 

Hyeah 's  de  place  fu'  you  to  labouh  an' 
to  res', 

Fu'  my  sandy  roads  is  gleamin'  w'ile 
de  city  ways  is  black ; 

Come  back,  honey,  case  yo'  country 
home  is  bes'. 


123 


I know  de  moon  is  shinin'  down  erpon 
de  Eastern  sho', 

An'  de  bay 's  a-sayin'  44  Howdy  " to  de 
lan'; 

An'  de  folks  is  all  a-settin'  out  erroun'  de 
cabin  do', 

Wid  dey  feet  a-restin'  in  de  silvah 
san'; 

An'  de  ol'  plantation 's  callin'  to  me. 
Come,  oh,  come, 

F'om  de  life  dat 's  des'  a-waihin'  you 
erway, 

F'om  de  trouble  an'  de  bustle,  an'  de 
agernizin'  hum 

Dat  de  city  keeps  ergoin'  all  de  day. 


125 


I *s  tiahed  of  de  city,  tek  me  back  to  Sandy 
Side, 

Whaih  de  po*est  ones  kin  live  an*  play 
an*  eat ; 

Whaih  we  draws  a simple  livin*  Pom  de 
fo*est  an*  de  tide, 


An*  de  days  ah  faih,  an*  evah  night  is 
sweet. 


Fu'  de  o 1'  plantation 's  callin'  to  me, 
Come,  oh,  come* 

An'  de  Chesapeake 's  a-sayin'  44  Dat  's 
de  t'ing,” 

W'ile  my  little  cabin  beckons,  dough 
his  mouf  is  closed  an'  dumb, 

I 's  a-comin',  an'  my  hea't  begins  to  sing* 


128 


WADIN'  IN  DE  CREEK 


129 


QAYS  git  wa'm  an'  wa'mah, 
School  gits  mighty  dull, 
Seems  lak  dese  hyeah  teachahs 
Mus'  feel  mussifuL 
Hookey  's  wrong,  I know  it 
Ain't  no  gent'man's  trick ; 
But  de  aihs  a-callin', 

“ Come  on  to  de  crick/' 

Dah  de  watah 's  gu'glin' 

Ovah  shiny  stones, 

Des  hit's  ve'y  singin' 

Seems  to  soothe  yo'  bones* 
W'at 's  de  use  o'  waitin', 

Go  on  good  an'  quick : 
Dain't  no  fun  lak  dis  hyeah 
Wadin'  in  de  crick* 


W'at  dat  jay-bu'd  sayin'  ? 

Bettah  shet  yo'  haid, 
Fus'  ting  dat  you  fin'  out, 
You  11  be  layin'  daid. 
Jay-bu'd  's  sich  a tattlah, 
Des  seem  lak  his  trick 
Fu'  to  tell  on  folkses 
Wadin'  in  de  crick* 


133 


Wilier  boughs  a-bendin', 
Hidin'  of  de  sky. 

Wavin'  kin'  o'  frien'ly 
Ez  de  win'  go  by, 

Elum  trees  a-shinin', 

Dahk  an'  green  an'  thick, 
Seem  to  say,  “ I see  yo' 
Wadin'  in  de  crick." 

But  de  trees  don'  chattah, 

Dey  des  look  an'  sigh 
Lak  hit 's  kin'  o'  peaceful 
Des  a-bein'  nigh, 

An'  you  t'ank  yo'  Mastah 
Dat  dey  trunks  is  thick 
W'en  yo'  mammy  fin's  yo' 
Wadin'  in  de  crick* 


135 


Den  yo'  run  behin'  dem 
Lak  yo'  scaihed  to  def, 
Mammy  come  a-flyin', 

Mos'  nigh  out  o'  bref ; 

But  she  set  down  gentle 

An'  she  drap  huh  stick,  — 
An'  fus'  t'ing,  dey 's  mammy 
Wadin'  in  de  crick. 


136 


’LONG  TO’DS  NIGHT 


137 


DAIH  'S  a moughty  soothin'  feelin' 
Hits  a dahky  man, 

'Long  to'ds  night* 

W'en  de  row  is  mos'  nigh  ended, 

Den  he  stops  to  fan, 

'Long  to'ds  night* 

De  blue  smoke  f'om  his  cabin  is  a-callin' 
to  him,  u Come ; " 

He  smell  de  bacon  cookin',  an'  he  hyeah 
de  fiah  hum ; 

An'  he  'mence  to  sing,  'dough  wo'kin' 
putty  nigh  done  made  him  dumb, 
'Long  to'ds  night* 

J39 


Wid  his  hoe  erpon  his  shouldah 
Den  he  goes  erlong, 

Tong  to'ds  night* 

An'  he  keepin'  time  a-steppin' 
Wid  a little  song, 

Tong  to'ds  night. 


De  restin'-time 's  a-comin',  an'  de  time 
to  drink  an'  eat ; 

A baby  's  toddlin'  to'ds  him  on  hits 
little  dusty  feet. 

An'  a-goin'  to'ds  his  cabin,  an'  his 
suppah 's  moughty  sweet, 

'Long  to'ds  night* 


Daih  his  Ca'line  min'  de  kettle, 
Rufus  min'  de  chile, 

'Long  to'ds  night ; 

An'  de  sweat  roll  down  his  forred, 
Mixin'  wid  his  smile, 

'Long  to'ds  night* 

He  toss  his  piccaninny,  an'  he  hum  a 
little  chune ; 

De  wo'kin'  all  is  ovah,  an'  de  suppah 
cornin'  soon; 

De  wo'kin'  time 's  Decembah,  but  de 
restin'  time  is  June, 

'Long  to'ds  night* 

143 


Dey  's  a kin'  o'  doleful  feeling 
Hits  a tendah  place, 

Tong  to'ds  night; 

Dey 's  a moughty  glory  in  him 
Shinin'  thoo  his  face, 

Tong  to'ds  night. 

De  cabin  's  lak  de  big  house,  an'  de 
fiah  's  lak  de  sun ; 

His  wife  look  moughty  lakly,  an'  de 
chile  de  puttiest  one ; 

W'y,  hit 's  blessid,  jes'  a-livin'  w'en  a 
body's  wo'k  is  done. 

'Long  to'ds  night. 

144 


